Gatineau council clashes in heated debate on video lottery machines 

Sophie Demers 

The first city council meeting of the year started off with a bang. A resolution authorizing a Masson-Anger restaurant to add three video lottery machines to the five already installed sparked a heated debate among councillors. 

The restaurant would have to move a wall slightly to accommodate the new machines. This required a minor variance that the city needed to approve. 

During the preparatory caucus meeting, Buckingham councillor and President of the Economic Development Commission, Edmond Leclerc, asked that the council be vigilant when approving the resolution as it set a precedent for other requests in the future. He noted that the Committee Consultatif de L’Urbanisme (CCU) was in favor of the resolution while the city’s Service d’Urbanisme was not. 

Mario Aubé, Masson-Anger councillor, advocated for the approval of the resolution in the name of supporting local businesses and highlighting the financial benefits of these machines for the business. He also noted that other businesses in Gatineau had more than five machines and that exceptions could be made for some and not others. Other councillors also voiced their unfavourable opinions related to the video lottery machines.

“The monetary argument is not usually considered in a decision,” said Aubé, “but when we speak like a machine, rather than thinking with our heads, it is sometimes at that moment that we make it difficult for the merchants in our different sectors. This afternoon, I was very surprised to see that the President of the Economic Development Commission (Councillor Leclerc) opposes this kind of demand when we have merchants who have a lot of difficulty, especially in the eastern sector of the city. I will continue to defend merchants throughout the city, but especially in this sector. In Masson-Angers, over the past few years, there have been four restaurants, including two in Angers, that burned down and no longer exist. There is one left for breakfast, and it is the one we are currently discussing.” 

In response, Hull-Wright Councillor Steve Morin said, “It's disappointing to think that the addition of video lottery is an economic development matter. It does not create a service. Gambling does not create prosperity. Another point, I find it deplorable that after we make a decision here, we imply that taking a position other than that of the person speaking – I’m referring to Mr. Aubé – does not speak with intelligence.”

This sparked a heated argument, with councillors interrupting and talking over one another. Denis Girouard, Lac-Beauchamp councillor, stated that the discussion was unproductive because it was along party lines, while also siding with Aubé. Girouard then said the President of the Economic Development Commission should back down. 

Council president, Steven Boivin, had to halt the discussion and remind councillors involved to focus on the agenda item, stop discussions of political parties and suggest council members step down. 

Aubé stated that not too far from Masson-Anger, in Buckingham there is a business that has 10 machines. Others noted that saying that these machines won’t bring revenue to the business is shortsighted, as no one would argue that Casino Lac-Leamy benefits from these machines. 

Before the vote Boivin stated “Dear colleagues, I remind you that it is rare that we have debates as lively as this. It is important to do it. I hope that we will continue to have these debates. I just hope that when we do it, we focus on the proposal and not get involved in the entire electoral campaign that follows.” 

In the end, the council approved the video lottery machines. The vote was 15 in favour and five against. Moran, despite voicing dissatisfaction with the proposal, voted in favor. The vote was not divided along party lines. A mix of independents and Action Gatineau members voted in favour, same with those who voted against.